Leap Year: A Story About Fish & People

With so much change in the world around us, we all need something to count on. The outdoors are a place most of us turn for peace and rejuvenation. Outdoor pursuits dripping with tradition-like Spey fishing-have become even more sacred and worthy of protection.
Now, from issues like global pandemics to global warming, there are countless ways in which this tradition can be broken. In swinging flies for wild steelhead in British Columbia’s famed Bulkley-Skeena Valley, "Leap Year" explores the river and the colorful characters of this culture as it begs the question: who will carry on these traditions if the migrations come to a screeching halt?
We're proud to be supporters of this film by @anadromous & @topofilms. Leap Year spent the last 12 months touring in the F3t film festival.
#leapyearfilm #steelhead #britishcolumbia #f3t #speyfishing #speycasting #flyfishing #flyfishingfilmtour
@flyfishingfilmtour @orvis @fishingbc @nativefishsociety @frontiersteelhead @epicwaters @travelnorthernbc @smithersbrewing @scientificanglers

[@stephenland9361]

Ah yes, fly fishing for steelhead on the Morice. A beautiful river with beautiful fish. There you are, standing up to your thighs in cold, clear, running water. The first cigar of the day has left you with a nice nicotine buzz. The first beer of the day is fizzing away nicely in your stomach. It's time for the second cigar of your day. As you light up, you glance at your watch. It's seven o'clock in the morning.

[@jasonsfishingagain312]

Holy crap, it's already seven!?! 😲

[@gladysatrill7492]

Love this. Thanks for letting me be a part of it. We need to respect the rivers, the fish and the people who love them.

[@davidpelo8798]

Nice pick on Lisa Leblanc for the soundtrack, saw her on my last catfish trip to the Red River.

[@ForrestMankins]

Really a beautiful video, thanks for making this.

[@_nickhill_]

I appreciate how they hit on the importance we anglers have to not only enjoy the resources, but to fight for them as well. These fish and these places are irreplaceable, and it falls on us anglers to stand up for them and share their value with others. Thank you for a beautiful film Topo FIlms and Orvis!

[@markmcmyn8967]

The steelhead have been goin' down for the last 3 years. Last year they closed the entire skeena system down in october. Once upon a time there were steelhead.

[@anderskorman3642]

What a beautiful fish. Such an amazing culture this video really diagnose the true addiction of swinging.

[@saltabiten6088]

Yes tradition is important.

[@SledorFish]

I love everything about being up there and look forward to the day I can visit again. Hopefully the steelhead will still be there in abundance too.

[@flick3971]

Awesome.

[@chapsteronetime2000]

Wow 9:16 mark what a beautiful steely! That’s a dreamy fish rite there! Love BC been over 25yrs since I’ve stepped foot over there, last time Barkley sound fishin w pops and grandpa for kings! Oh lovely memories

[@unjarredoutdoors5513]

Agreed. That shot was awesome.

[@adventuretimefishinghunting]

This was beautiful. Loved the video!

[@goobajc]

Great short film, really loved the nature shots and those fish were gorgeous!

[@leiferichsen5074]

Truly enjoyed watching this video. The cinema photography so captured the beauty of this sport.

[@NickAndCaroline]

What a beautiful place.

[@rowenab7117]

Beautiful

[@alexmorriss]

Wonderfully shot film. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@patricktillard]

Beautiful film.

[@ThailandOutdoor]

I love this video. Great story, beautiful cinema photography, wonderful people!

[@pexfish]

Great story, amazing filming, nature is just the part of us... & maybe a bit fishing also🤫

[@unjarredoutdoors5513]

Beautiful waters

[@Elparquito]

The 43"x23" fish in my profile may or may not have been caught on a spey swung fly on the Kispiox. I miss that place and I miss those fish. Sorry Orvis, but I was using a sage rod and abel reel.

[@TiredAmerican247]

An Abel and Sage together is a great pairing.

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Great video!

[@peteboll5034]

The greatest fish that swims...

[@saltabiten6088]

Silence is golden.

[@kevinrawding6730]

I’m surprised that there was no mention of the rivers dire condition in regards to its steelhead populations decline in the last few years

[@lambertsaldi1550]

AWESOME FOOTAGE SUPER NICE FISH THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS 🇺🇸🗽🇺🇸 🇨🇦🍁 GOOD LUCK TOO ALL ON THE WATER 👍 👍 🎏 PROUD MEMBER OF THE LET'S GO BRANDON FJB, FJT COMMUNITY PERIOD!! GOD BLESS ALL TRUE PATRIOTS 🙏🙏🙏 HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL AND FLY ROD IN HAND!! THE VERMONTER !!

[@riverrunner1971]

Guides, lodge owners and more guides! When the fish are in trouble, what do they do? Keep on guiding 😂

[@johnwallace5098]

They should run gear so they can at least release the fish before it’s exhausted

[@kencrowne9695]

As someone whos done DIY trips into lower BC a few times, Its frustrating that its increasingly difficult for the common man to get up into the skeena system as a non-resident.

[@davidgray3321]

We missed out on a lot of fishing in the U.K. due to Covid as well that year, what was interesting is the in Scotland that year saw the best run in years, so what was that all about? Anyone got any ideas ? I would love to know what you think?

[@bigluke138]

Wonderful film, what’s the last song that starts in the 9th minute?

[@patrickmhenry1985]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJezoqCZmqiZb5I

[@bigluke138]

@@patrickmhenry1985 awesome, thank you

[@johnwallace5098]

Do you run guided trips not fly fishing. I don’t like how long you gotta fight these poor fish on the fly??

[@Jaimelapoesie]

Wonder how many Battenkills this video is going to sell...

[@JohnJames.]

None now they're made in china

[@jefflanham1080]

How about a moratorium on COMMERCIAL FISHING for a while???!! All up and down the entire western coast to SF Bay. I know there are other problems like dams but damn we all know what happens to most fish. Beyond that if y’all want to preserve your traditions………you might want to adopt a classically American fighting attitude towards your government/global corporations. Just saying…..

[@sscornav1]

If you want to raise awareness of this troubled fishery, you can start by including ALL of the anglers that support it, not just the ones who chose to use the same tackle as you do. Change your perspective and change your future.

[@TiredAmerican247]

Every fly fishing documentary is filmed the exact same way.

[@JohnJames.]

I turn a lot off

[@TheAimstro]

Cool cool touching but fly anglers and their light line fighting the fish for that long is the number one killer. Don't get me wrong its fun as hell but if you cant get a strike on 10# plus line then there's probably too much pressure anyways.

[@kwally33]

I was just going to say that same thing. I always thought best to land quick and release

[@chrisgeorge9814]

we use 20#

[@EDINTHEWIND]

Why do people not see tradition as imperative in our social fabric as much as they do in fishing? Why ORVIS? Aren’t you as far left as can be? Educate me please. I live right down the street from your Manchester store but will never enter the driveway because of the double headed ways you profess. I would travel four hours to an upstate NY fly shop than to enter your premises, but hey it’s America right? Lol.

[@marius.gabralevicius]

every fly fishing video is the same.

[@justin21491]

and the music is terrible.

[@unjarredoutdoors5513]

Yeah, could be more up beat .

[@thedude1056]

@@justin21491 you just don't have good taste. Sierra Ferrell rocks

[@johnwallace5098]

The music at the end is amazing. You guys should spoons too